Chiz to JPE, Jinggoy, Bong: Where did missing PDAF go?

ABS-CBN News

Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero on Monday said his colleagues, Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, Bong Revilla Jr. and Jinggoy Estrada, must explain how their pork barrel funds were spent after they were accused of pocketing their priority development assistance funds (PDAF).

Outright denials from the three senators and accusations of politicking are also not enough to explain the controversy, he said.

"Mahirap naman po yun. Suffice it to say, mabigat yung akusasyon. May dapat ipaliwanag sila at may dapat silang sagutin. Hindi maaaring balewalain at sabihin pulitika lang ito," he said in an interview on ANC's Headstart with Karen Davila.

The three senators are among 38 respondents facing plunder, bribery and malversation charges before the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly conspiring with businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles and officials of implementing agencies on stealing pork barrel funds.

Revilla is accused of pocketing P224.5 million in kickbacks from Napoles, Estrada allegedly pocketed P183.79 million in the scam while Enrile allegedly got P172.8 million, according to the National Bureau of Investigation.

Pork scam whistle-blowers said lawmakers involved in the scam allegedly got a 50 percent cut of all pork barrel funds that were funneled to Napoles-linked NGOs. The three senators have denied the accusations.

Escudero said outright denials are not enough since each senator is allotted P200 million in yearly pork barrel funds before the Supreme Court declared the funds as unconstitutional.